Equality Act

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.....................................................................
(Original Signature of Member)
H. R. ll
114TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual

orientation, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. CICILLINE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on llllllllllllll
A BILL
To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender
identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
1
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3
4
5
6
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the Equality Act.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Discrimination can occur on the basis of the
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or preg-
nancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of
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an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereo-
types. Each of these factors alone can serve as the
basis for discrimination, and each is a form of sex
discrimination.
(2) A single instance of discrimination may
have more than 1 basis. For example, discrimination
against a married same-sex couple could be based on
the sex stereotype that marriage should only be be-
tween heterosexual couples, the sexual orientation of
10
the 2 individuals in the couple, or both. Discrimina-
11
tion against a pregnant lesbian could be based on
12
her sex, her sexual orientation, her pregnancy, or on
13
the basis of multiple factors.
14
(3) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (re-
15
ferred to as LGBT) people commonly experience
16
discrimination in securing access to public accom-
17
modationsincluding restaurants, stores, places of or
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establishments that provide entertainment, and
19
transportation. Forms of discrimination include the
20
exclusion and denial of entry, unequal or unfair
21
treatment, harassment, and violence. This discrimi-
22
nation prevents the full participation of LGBT peo-
23
ple in society and disrupts the free flow of com-
24
merce.
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(4) Women also face discrimination, in estab-
lishments such as stores and restaurants, and places
or establishments that provide other goods or serv-
ices, such as entertainment or transportation, in-
cluding sexual harassment, differential pricing, and
denial of services because they are pregnant or
breastfeeding.
(5) Regular and ongoing discrimination against
LGBT people, as well as women, in accessing public
10
accommodations contributes to negative social and
11
economic outcomes.
12
(6) Both LGBT people and women face wide-
13
spread discrimination in employment and various
14
services, including by entities that receive Federal fi-
15
nancial assistance. Such discrimination
16
(A) is particularly troubling and inappro-
17
priate for programs and services funded wholly
18
or in part by the Federal Government;
19
(B) undermines national progress toward
20
equal treatment regardless of sex, sexual ori-
21
entation, or gender identity; and
22
(C) is inconsistent with the constitutional
23
principle of equal protection under the Four-
24
teenth Amendment of the Constitution of the
25
United States.
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(7) Workers who are LGBT, or are perceived to
be LGBT, have been subjected to a history and pat-
tern of persistent, widespread, and pervasive dis-
crimination on the bases of sexual orientation and
gender identity by private sector employers and Fed-
eral, State, and local government employers.
(8) Numerous provisions of Federal law ex-
pressly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex,
and Federal agencies and courts have correctly in-
10
terpreted these prohibitions on sex discrimination to
11
include discrimination based on sexual orientation,
12
gender identity, and sex stereotypes. In particular,
13
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has
14
explicitly interpreted sex discrimination to include
15
sexual orientation and gender identity.
16
(9) The absence of explicit prohibitions of dis-
17
crimination on the basis of sexual orientation and
18
gender identity under Federal statutory law, as well
19
as some conflicting case law on how broadly sex dis-
20
crimination provisions apply, has created uncertainty
21
for employers and other entities covered by these
22
laws. This lack of clear coverage also causes unnec-
23
essary hardships for LGBT people.
24
(10) LGBT people often face discrimination
25
when seeking to rent or purchase housing, as well as
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in every other aspect of obtaining and maintaining
housing. LGBT people in same-sex relationships are
often discriminated against when 2 names associated
with 1 gender appear on a housing application, and
transgender people often encounter discrimination
when credit checks or inquiries reveal a former
name.
(11) National surveys, including a study com-
missioned by the Department of Housing and Urban
10
Development, show that housing discrimination
11
against LGBT people is very prevalent. For in-
12
stance, when same-sex couples inquire about housing
13
that is available for rent, they are less likely to re-
14
ceive positive responses from landlords. According to
15
other studies, transgender people have half the
16
homeownership rate of non-transgender people and
17
about 1 in 5 transgender people experience home-
18
lessness.
19
(12) As a result of the absence of explicit prohi-
20
bitions against discrimination on the basis of sexual
21
orientation and gender identity, credit applicants
22
who are LGBT, or perceived to be LGBT, have un-
23
equal opportunities to establish credit. LGBT people
24
can experience being denied a mortgage, credit card,
25
student loan, or many other types of credit simply
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because of their sexual orientation or gender iden-
tity.
(13) Numerous studies demonstrate that LGBT
people, especially transgender people and women, are
economically disadvantaged and at a higher risk for
poverty compared with other groups of people.
(14) The right to an impartial jury of ones
peers and the reciprocal right to jury service are
fundamental to the free and democratic system of
10
justice in the United States and are based in the
11
Bill of Rights. There is, however, an unfortunate
12
and long-documented history in the United States of
13
attorneys discriminating against LGBT individuals,
14
or those perceived to be LGBT, in jury selection.
15
Failure to bar peremptory challenges based on the
16
actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender
17
identity of an individual not only erodes a funda-
18
mental right, duty, and obligation of being a citizen
19
of the United States, but also unfairly creates a sec-
20
ond class of citizenship for LGBT victims, witnesses,
21
plaintiffs, and defendants.
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SEC. 3. PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.
(a) PROHIBITION
TION IN
ON
DISCRIMINATION
OR
SEGREGA-
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.Section 201 of the
25 Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a) is amended
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(1) in subsection (a), by inserting sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, before or national ori-
gin; and
(2) in subsection (b)
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking sta-
dium and all that follows and inserting sta-
dium or other place of or establishment that
provides exhibition, entertainment, recreation,
exercise, amusement, gathering, or display;;
10
(B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as
11
paragraph (6); and
12
(C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the
13
following:
14
(4) any establishment that provides a good,
15
service, or program, including a store, shopping cen-
16
ter, online retailer or service provider, salon, bank,
17
gas station, food bank, service or care center, shel-
18
ter, travel agency, or funeral parlor, or establish-
19
ment that provides health care, accounting, or legal
20
services;
21
(5) any train service, bus service, car service,
22
taxi service, airline service, station, depot, or other
23
place of or establishment that provides transpor-
24
tation service; and.
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(b) PROHIBITION
ON
DISCRIMINATION
OR
SEGREGA-
UNDER LAW.Section 202 of such Act (42 U.S.C.
TION
3 2000a1) is amended by inserting sex, sexual orienta4 tion, gender identity, before or national origin.
5
(c) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.Title II of such Act
6 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.) is amended by adding at the

7 end the following:
8
9
SEC. 208. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
A reference in this title to an establishment
10
(1) shall be construed to include an individual
11
whose operations affect commerce and who is a pro-
12
vider of a good, service, or program; and
13
14
15
16
(2) shall not be construed to be limited to a

physical facility or place..
SEC. 4. DESEGREGATION OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.
Section 301(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42
17 U.S.C. 2000b(a)) is amended by inserting sex, sexual ori18 entation, gender identity, before or national origin.
19
20
SEC. 5. DESEGREGATION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
(a) DEFINITIONS.Section 401(b) of the Civil Rights
21 Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000c(b)) is amended by inserting

22 , sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national
23 origin.
24
(b) CIVIL ACTIONS
BY THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
25 Section 407 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000c6) is amended,
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1 in subsection (a)(2), by inserting , sexual orientation,
2 gender identity, before or national origin.
3
(c) CLASSIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENT.Section 410
4 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 2000c9) is amended by inserting

5 , sexual orientation, gender identity, before or national
6 origin.
7
8
SEC. 6. FEDERAL FUNDING.
Section 601 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42
9 U.S.C. 2000d) is amended by inserting sex, sexual ori10 entation, gender identity, before or national origin,.
11
SEC. 7. EMPLOYMENT.
12
(a) RULES
OF
CONSTRUCTION.Title VII of the
13 Civil Rights Act of 1964 is amended by inserting after

14 section 701 (42 U.S.C. 2000e) the following:
15
16
SEC. 701A. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Section 1106 shall apply to this title except that for
17 purposes of that application, a reference in that section

18 to an unlawful practice shall be considered to be a ref19 erence to an unlawful employment practice..
20
(b) UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.Section
21 703 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e

22 2) is amended
23
(1) in the section header, by striking SEX,
24
and inserting SEX,
25
IDENTITY,;
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(2) except in subsection (e), by striking sex,
each place it appears and inserting sex, sexual ori-
entation, gender identity,;
(3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking enter-
prise, and inserting enterprise, if, in a situation in
which sex is a bona fide occupational qualification,
individuals are recognized as qualified in accordance
with their gender identity,; and
(4) in subsection (h), by striking sex the sec-
10
ond place it appears and inserting sex, sexual ori-
11
entation, gender identity,.
12
(c) OTHER UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.
13 Section 704(b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.

14 2000e3(b)) is amended
15
(1) by striking sex, the first place it appears
16
and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender iden-
17
tity,; and
18
(2) by striking employment. and inserting
19
employment, if, in a situation in which sex is a
20
bona fide occupational qualification, individuals are
21
recognized as qualified in accordance with their gen-
22
der identity..
23
(d) CLAIMS.Section 706(g)(2)(A) of the Civil
24 Rights Act of 1964 (2000e5(g)(2)(A)) is amended by
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1 striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gen2 der identity,.
3
(e) EMPLOYMENT BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.Sec-
4 tion 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.

5 2000e16) is amended
6
(1) in subsection (a), by striking sex, and in-
serting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,;
and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking sex and in-
10
serting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,.
11
(f) GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE RIGHTS ACT
OF
12 1991.The Government Employee Rights Act of 1991

13 (42 U.S.C. 2000e16a et seq.) is amended
14
15
(1) in section 301(b), by striking sex, and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,;
16
(2) in section 302(a)(1), by striking sex, and
17
inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,;
18
and
19
20
21
(3) by adding at the end the following:

SEC. 305. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION AND CLAIMS.
Sections 1101(b), 1106, and 1107 of the Civil
22 Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this title except that

23 for purposes of that application, a reference in that section
24 1106 to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gen25 der identity, or national origin shall be considered to be
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1 a reference to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
2 gender identity, national origin, age, or disability..
3
(g) CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
OF
4 1995.The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2

5 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended
6
(1) in section 201(a)(1) (2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1))
by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity,
before or national origin,; and
9
10
11
12
(2) by adding at the end of title II (42 U.S.C.

1311 et seq.) the following:
13 Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to section 201 (and reme14 dial provisions of this Act related to section 201) except
15 that for purposes of that application, a reference in that
16 section 1106 to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orienta17 tion, gender identity, or national origin shall be consid18 ered to be a reference to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
19 orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or dis20 ability..
21
(h) CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ACT
OF
1978.Chapter
22 23 of title 5, United States Code, is amended

23
(1) in section 2301(b)(2), by striking sex,
24
and inserting sex, sexual orientation, gender iden-
25
tity,; and
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(2) in section 2302
(A) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting
sexual orientation, gender identity, before or
national origin,; and
(B) in subsection (d)(1), by inserting sex-
ual orientation, gender identity, before or na-
tional origin;; and
9
10
11 Rights Act of 1964 shall apply to this chapter (and reme12 dial provisions of this title related to this chapter) except
14 section 1106 to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orienta15 tion, gender identity, or national origin shall be consid16 ered to be a reference to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
17 orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, a handi18 capping condition, marital status, or political affiliation..
19
20
SEC. 8. INTERVENTION.
Section 902 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42
21 U.S.C. 2000h2) is amended by inserting , sexual ori22 entation, gender identity, before or national origin,.
23
24
SEC. 9. MISCELLANEOUS.
Title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is amended
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(1) by redesignating sections 1101 through
1104 (42 U.S.C. 2000h et seq.) and sections 1105
and 1106 (42 U.S.C. 2000h5, 2000h6) as sections
1102 through 1105 and sections 1108 and 1109, re-
spectively;
6
7
8
9
(2) by inserting after the title heading the following:

SEC. 1101. DEFINITIONS AND RULES.
(a) DEFINITIONS.In titles II, III, IV, VI, VII, and
10 IX (referred to individually in sections 1106 and 1107 as

11 a covered title):
12
(1) RACE;
13
ORIENTATION; GENDER IDENTITY; NATIONAL ORI-
14
GIN.The
15
ual orientation, gender identity, or national ori-
16
gin, used with respect to an individual, includes
17
(A) the race, color, religion, sex, sexual
18
orientation, gender identity, or national origin,
19
respectively, of another person with whom the
20
individual is associated or has been associated;
21
and
term race, color, religion, sex, sex-
22
(B) a perception or belief, even if inac-
23
curate, concerning the race, color, religion, sex,
24
sexual orientation, gender identity, or national
25
origin, respectively, of the individual.
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COLOR; RELIGION; SEX; SEXUAL
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(2) GENDER
IDENTITY.The
term gender
identity means the gender-related identity, appear-
ance, mannerisms, or other gender-related character-
istics of an individual, regardless of the individuals
designated sex at birth.
(3) INCLUDING.The term including means
including, but not limited to, consistent with the
terms standard meaning in Federal law.
(4) SEX.The term sex includes
10
(A) a sex stereotype;
11
(B) pregnancy, childbirth, or a related
12
medical condition; and
13
(C) sexual orientation or gender identity.
14
(5) SEXUAL
ORIENTATION.The
term sexual
15
orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or
16
bisexuality.
17
(b) RULES.In a covered title referred to in sub-
18 section (a)
19
(1) (with respect to sex) pregnancy, childbirth,
20
or a related medical condition shall not receive less
21
favorable treatment than other physical conditions;
22
and
23
(2) (with respect to gender identity) an indi-
24
vidual shall not be denied access to a shared facility,
25
including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing
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room, that is in accordance with the individuals
gender identity.; and
3
4
5
6
(3) by inserting after section 1105 the following:

SEC. 1106. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
(a) SEX.Nothing in section 1101 or the provisions
7 of a covered title incorporating a term defined or a rule

8 specified in that section shall be construed
9
(1) to limit the protection against an unlawful
10
practice on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or a
11
related medical condition provided by section 701(k);
12
or
13
(2) to limit the protection against an unlawful
14
practice on the basis of sex available under any pro-
15
vision of Federal law other than that covered title,
16
prohibiting a practice on the basis of sex.
17
(b) CLAIMS
AND
REMEDIES NOT PRECLUDED.
18 Nothing in section 1101 or a covered title shall be con19 strued to limit the claims or remedies available to any indi20 vidual for an unlawful practice on the basis of race, color,
21 religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or na22 tional origin including claims brought pursuant to section
23 1979 or 1980 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 1983,
24 1985) or any other law, including a Federal law amended
25 by the Equality Act, regulation, or policy.
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(c) NO NEGATIVE INFERENCE.Nothing in section
2 1101 or a covered title shall be construed to support any

3 inference that any Federal law prohibiting a practice on
4 the basis of sex does not prohibit discrimination on the
5 basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condi6 tion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or a sex stereo7 type.
8
9
SEC. 1107. CLAIMS.
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42
10 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.) shall not provide a claim con11 cerning, or a defense to a claim under, a covered title,
12 or provide a basis for challenging the application or en13 forcement of a covered title..
14
15
SEC. 10. HOUSING.
(a) FAIR HOUSING ACT.The Fair Housing Act (42
16 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended

17
(1) in section 802, by adding at the end the fol-
18
lowing:
19
(p) Gender identity, sex, and sexual orientation
20 have the meanings given those terms in section 1101(a)

21 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
22
(q) Race, color, religion, sex, sexual orienta-
23 tion, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or na24 tional origin, used with respect to an individual, in25 cludes
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(1) the race, color, religion, sex, sexual ori-
entation, gender identity, handicap, familial status,
or national origin, respectively, of another person
with whom the individual is associated or has been
associated; and
(2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate,
concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual ori-
entation, gender identity, handicap, familial status,
or national origin, respectively, of the individual.;
10
(2) in section 804, by inserting sexual orienta-
11
tion, gender identity, after sex, each place that
12
term appears;
13
(3) in section 805, by inserting sexual orienta-
14
tion, gender identity, after sex, each place that
15
term appears;
16
17
(4) in section 806, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex,;
18
19
(5) in section 808(e)(6), by inserting sexual

orientation, gender identity, after sex,; and
20
21
22

SEC. 821. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Sections 1101(b) and 1106 of the Civil Rights Act
23 of 1964 shall apply to this title and section 901, except

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1 section 1101(b) or 1106 to a covered title shall be consid2 ered a reference to this title and section 901.
3
SEC. 822. CLAIMS.
Section 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shall
5 apply to this title and section 901, except that for pur6 poses of that application, a reference in that section 1107
7 to a covered title shall be considered a reference to this
8 title and section 901..
9
10
(b) PREVENTION
ING
OF
INTIMIDATION
IN
FAIR HOUS-
CASES.Section 901 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968
11 (42 U.S.C. 3631) is amended by inserting sexual orienta12 tion (as such term is defined in section 802 of this Act),
13 gender identity (as such term is defined in section 802
14 of this Act), after sex, each place that term appears.
15
16
SEC. 11. EQUAL CREDIT OPPORTUNITY.
(a)
PROHIBITED
DISCRIMINATION.Section
17 701(a)(1) of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C.

18 1691(a)(1)) is amended by inserting sexual orientation,
19 gender identity, after status,.
20
(b) DEFINITIONS.Section 702 of the Equal Credit
21 Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691a) is amended

22
23
(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as

subsections (h) and (i), respectively;
24
25
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
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1
(f) The terms gender identity, sex, and sexual
2 orientation have the meanings given those terms in sec3 tion 1101(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.
4 2000e).
5
(g) The term race, color, religion, national ori-
6 gin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital

7 status, or age, used with respect to an individual, in8 cludes
9
(1) the race, color, religion, national origin,
10
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital sta-
11
tus, or age, respectively, of another person with
12
whom the individual is associated or has been associ-
13
ated; and
14
15
concerning the race, color, religion, national origin,
16
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital sta-
17
tus, or age, respectively, of the individual.; and
18
19
(j) Sections 1101(b) and 1106 of the Civil Rights
20 Act of 1964 shall apply to this title, except that for pur21 poses of that application
22
(1) a reference in those sections to a covered
23
title shall be considered a reference to this title;
24
and
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1
(2) paragraph (1) of such section 1101(b)
shall apply with respect to all aspects of a credit
transaction..
(c) RELATION
TO
STATE LAWS.Section 705(a) of
5 the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691d(a))

6 is amended by inserting , sexual orientation, gender iden7 tity, after sex.
8
(d) CIVIL LIABILITY.Section 706 of the Equal
9 Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691e) is amended by

10 adding at the end the following:
11
(l) Section 1107 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
12 shall apply to this title, except that for purposes of that

13 application, a reference in that section to a covered title
14 shall be considered a reference to this title..
15
16
SEC. 12. JURIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.Chapter 121 of title 28, United
17 States Code, is amended

18
19
(1) in section 1862, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity, after sex,;
20
(2) in section 1867(e), in the second sentence,
21
by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity,
22
after sex,;
23
(3) in section 1869
24
(A) in subsection (j), by striking and at
25
the end;
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1
(B) in subsection (k), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
(l) gender identity, sex, and sexual orientation
5 have the meanings given such terms under section 1101(a)

6 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
7
(m) race, color, religion, sex, sexual orienta-
8 tion, gender identity, economic status, or national ori9 gin, used with respect to an individual, includes
10
(1) the race, color, religion, sex, sexual ori-
11
entation, gender identity, economic status, or na-
12
tional origin, respectively, of another person with
13
whom the individual is associated or has been associ-
14
ated; and
15
16
concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual ori-
17
entation, gender identity, economic status, or na-
18
tional origin, respectively, of the individual.; and
19
20 1879. Rules of construction and claims

21
Section 1101(b), 1106, and 1107 of the Civil Rights
22 Act of 1964 shall apply to this chapter, except that for

23 purposes of that application, a reference in those sections
24 to a covered title shall be considered a reference to this
25 chapter..
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1
(b) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
2 The table of sections for chapter 121 of title 28, United

3 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol4 lowing:
1879. Rules of construction and claims..
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Equality Act

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F:\M14\CICILL\CICILL_055.

To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the Equality Act.

Congress finds the following:

(1) Discrimination can occur on the basis of the

sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or preg-

nancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of

10:24 Jul 23, 2015

an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereo-

types. Each of these factors alone can serve as the

basis for discrimination, and each is a form of sex

(2) A single instance of discrimination may

have more than 1 basis. For example, discrimination

against a married same-sex couple could be based on

the sex stereotype that marriage should only be be-

tween heterosexual couples, the sexual orientation of

the 2 individuals in the couple, or both. Discrimina-

tion against a pregnant lesbian could be based on

her sex, her sexual orientation, her pregnancy, or on

the basis of multiple factors.

(3) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (re-

ferred to as LGBT) people commonly experience

discrimination in securing access to public accom-

modationsincluding restaurants, stores, places of or

establishments that provide entertainment, and

transportation. Forms of discrimination include the

exclusion and denial of entry, unequal or unfair

treatment, harassment, and violence. This discrimi-

nation prevents the full participation of LGBT peo-

ple in society and disrupts the free flow of com-

10:24 Jul 23, 2015

(4) Women also face discrimination, in estab-

lishments such as stores and restaurants, and places

or establishments that provide other goods or serv-

ices, such as entertainment or transportation, in-

cluding sexual harassment, differential pricing, and

denial of services because they are pregnant or

(5) Regular and ongoing discrimination against

LGBT people, as well as women, in accessing public

accommodations contributes to negative social and

(6) Both LGBT people and women face wide-

spread discrimination in employment and various

services, including by entities that receive Federal fi-

nancial assistance. Such discrimination

(A) is particularly troubling and inappro-

priate for programs and services funded wholly

or in part by the Federal Government;

(B) undermines national progress toward

equal treatment regardless of sex, sexual ori-

entation, or gender identity; and

(C) is inconsistent with the constitutional

principle of equal protection under the Four-

teenth Amendment of the Constitution of the

10:24 Jul 23, 2015

(7) Workers who are LGBT, or are perceived to

be LGBT, have been subjected to a history and pat-

tern of persistent, widespread, and pervasive dis-

crimination on the bases of sexual orientation and

gender identity by private sector employers and Fed-

eral, State, and local government employers.